Taiwanese Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting has agreed to undergo mandatory gender testing before competing at the upcoming World Boxing Championships in Liverpool next month. Her coach, Tseng Tzu-chiang, confirmed the decision on Thursday.
The new rule comes after a gender row at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif both faced scrutiny but went on to win gold in their respective weight classes.
On Wednesday, World Boxing announced that all female athletes competing in its sanctioned events must now undergo compulsory genetic testing. The policy requires athletes over 18 to take a PCR genetic test to determine their sex at birth.
“They announced that everyone must submit, so we will submit as well,” Coach Tseng said. “If you want to compete, you have to follow the rules of the competition. Since we are participating, we will go by their rules.”
The new testing policy has sparked debate across the sports world, with critics questioning its fairness and potential impact on athletes’ privacy. Still, Lin remains focused on defending her reputation and aiming for another major title at the Liverpool event.
